Greece Ferries
Select your destination or departure port to get insights in the various Greek crossings
Ferries to Greece and domestic Greek ferries
From headline islands like Santorini and Mykonos to longer crossings from Italy to Patras with your own car, Greece is one of Europe’s great ferry destinations. Ferries are not just part of the journey here, they are often the best way to travel. With thousands of islands and a wide domestic network, Greece is built for island-hopping.
Whether you’re planning a ferry from Italy, comparing routes between the Cyclades, or looking for a quieter, less obvious island-hopping itinerary through the Aegean, this guide will help you find the right route and get started.
Maps: ferries to and within Greece
Above: Map with ferries within Greece
Below: Ferries to Greece, from Italy and Albania.
About the Greek ferry crossings
How to reach Greece by ferry
Yes, you can travel to Greece by ferry, not just within Greece itself.
The main international ferry routes to Greece run from:
Italy (Venice, Bari, Brindisi and Ancona) – see our Italy to Greece guide
Albania (for example Saranda to Corfu) – see Albania–Greece ferry routes
Turkey (for example Çeşme to Chios or Bodrum to Kos)
These crossings are especially useful if you are travelling with your own car, motorhome or campervan, as many of them take vehicles. Ferries from Italy usually arrive in Patras, Igoumenitsa or Corfu, making them a practical and surprisingly relaxed way to enter Greece from mainland Europe.
You can find most ferry routes to Greece in the booking module on this page.
Most Popular Ferry Routes in Greece
Here are some of the most-used and most-loved ferry connections across Greece — whether you're heading to the islands or arriving from Italy.
| Route | Travel Time | Operators | From Price | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens (Piraeus) ⇄ Santorini | 4.5 to 8 hrs | Blue Star Ferries, Seajets | £60+ | Domestic |
| Athens (Piraeus) ⇄ Mykonos | 2.5 to 5 hrs | Seajets, Fast Ferries, Minoan Lines | £68+ | Domestic |
| Athens (Piraeus) ⇄ Naxos | 3.5 to 6 hrs | Blue Star Ferries, Seajets | £102+ | Domestic |
| Mykonos ⇄ Santorini | 2 to 3.5 hrs | Seajets, Golden Star Ferries | £90+ | Domestic |
| Athens (Piraeus) ⇄ Milos | 3.5 to 6 hrs | Blue Star Ferries | £70+ | Domestic |
| Venice ⇄ Patras | 32–33 hrs | Anek Lines | £155+ | International |
| Ancona ⇄ Patras | 20 hrs | Anek Lines | £145+ | International |
| Venice ⇄ Igoumenitsa | 26 hrs | Anek Lines | £140+ | International |
| Bari ⇄ Corfu | 8–10 hrs | Ventouris Ferries | £60+ | International |
| Bari ⇄ Igoumenitsa | 8–9 hrs | Ventouris, Anek Lines | £68+ | International |
Major Ferry Ports in Greece
If you're planning a trip within Greece, you’ll likely pass through one of these key ports:
- Piraeus (Athens) – Main hub for the Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Crete
- Rafina – Smaller port northeast of Athens, useful for Andros and Tinos
- Heraklion (Crete) – Connected to Santorini and the Cyclades
- Patras – Western Greece, popular for international connections
- Igoumenitsa – North-western mainland, gateway to Italy and Corfu
- Corfu, Naxos, Mykonos, Santorini – Popular island ports
Coming from Italy?
There are 10+ ferry connections between Italy and Greece. We’ve covered them in detail on our Italy to Greece Ferry Guide, but here’s a quick snapshot:
- Brindisi ⇄ Igoumenitsa
- Ancona ⇄ Patras
- Venice ⇄ Patras / Igoumenitsa
- Bari ⇄ Corfu
They’re ideal for travellers with a car or camper, and a great alternative to flying.
Island hopping in Greece
With more than 200 inhabited islands and a huge number of ferry connections, Greece is one of the best places in Europe for island hopping. In many parts of the country, the ferry is simply part of how you travel from one island to the next.
Some of the best-known island groups are:
- The Cyclades – Naxos, Paros, Mykonos and Santorini
- The Dodecanese – Rhodes, Kos and Symi
- The Ionian Islands – Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos
- The Sporades – Skiathos and Skopelos
- The Saronic Islands – Hydra and Aegina, ideal for shorter trips from Athens
💡 Tip: a local platform such as Greece Ferries can be useful for comparing sailings and planning connections between islands. The route map is especially handy when you are trying to build a practical island-hopping itinerary.
On board, ferries and route maps
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- Bari is of course a good place to match your Greece trip with as Bari is a nice place to stay and leave from.
Combining Greece and Turkey by ferry?
Yes, in many cases you can easily combine Greece and Turkey in one trip by ferry. These are short international crossings and they can work very well if you want to add a Turkish coastal stop to your Greek island itinerary, or the other way round.
Popular routes such as Kos–Bodrum, Chios–Çeşme and Rhodes–Marmaris are especially popular in summer. Crossing times are often short, usually around 1 to 2 hours, which makes them a practical alternative to flying.
📌 Notes & travel tips
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Most crossings are seasonal: many routes mainly run between May and October.
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Bring your passport: this is an international ferry crossing, so standard domestic Greek ferry rules do not apply.
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Check visa requirements: depending on your nationality, you may need a visa or other entry permission for Turkey.
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Operators vary by route: sailings are usually run by smaller regional ferry companies and local operators.
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Very handy for island hopping: these routes make it much easier to combine Greek islands with Turkey’s Aegean coast, without needing a flight.
| Route | Greek_Port | Turkish_Port | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chios ⇄ Çeşme | Chios | Çeşme | 30–40 mins | One of the shortest and busiest routes |
| Kos ⇄ Bodrum | Kos | Bodrum | 45 mins | Frequent sailings, popular for day trips |
| Rhodes ⇄ Marmaris | Rhodes | Marmaris | 1 hour | Popular among tourists in Dodecanese |
| Samos (Vathy/Pythagorio) ⇄ Kuşadası | Samos (Vathy or Pythagorio) | Kuşadası | 1 hour | Easy access to Ephesus, a top Turkish attraction |
| Lesbos (Mytilene) ⇄ Ayvalık | Mytilene (Lesbos) | Ayvalık | 1.5 hours | Connects Northern Aegean to Turkish mainland |
| Kastellorizo ⇄ Kaş | Kastellorizo | Kaş | 20–30 mins | Very scenic route, small ferries |
| Symi ⇄ Datça | Symi | Datça | 1–1.5 hours | Lesser-known route with a charming coastal town |
| Kalymnos ⇄ Bodrum | Kalymnos | Bodrum | 1 hour | Less frequent, but good for island connections |
| Samos ⇄ Seferihisar (Teos Marina) | Samos (Karlovasi) | Seferihisar | 1.5 hours | Newer and less crowded route |
Prices and availability for the crossings to and within Greece
What is the sailing schedule and the best alternative?
To check the sailing schedule and timetable for this crossing, and to find the best alternative, simply fill in the booking module for ferries to Greece! This tool will provide up-to-date options, times, and routes to suit your travel needs.
🧳 Practical ferry tips for Greece
- Book early in peak season – in July and August, the most popular routes and departure times can sell out surprisingly quickly.
- Travel light if you are on foot – on some ferries, boarding can be busy and not every setup feels equally luggage-friendly.
- Double-check your departure port – Athens has several ferry ports, including Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio, and they serve different islands.
- Do not rule out the slower ferries – they are often cheaper, sometimes more relaxed, and the journey itself can be part of the experience.
- Look beyond the biggest operators – for island-to-island routes, local ferry companies often offer the most practical connections.
Is it possible to ferry from Santorini to Thirasia? Is this a regular ferry? Why don't you have this one listed?